Private security personnel brought in to monitor UCLA’s sorority area

UCLA Sorority Faces Threats from Aggressive Homeless Individuals

At UCLA, a sorority is dealing with intimidation from aggressive homeless individuals who threaten and harass members as they commute. This troubling trend has been observed by students who report ongoing, threatening interactions from vagrants targeting women in their daily movements.

Students have shared experiences of men shouting obscenities, making sexual remarks, and approaching them on sidewalks close to their residences. One particularly notorious individual has been referred to as “the screaming man.”

In response to these incidents, the UCLA Panhellenic Society, the university’s largest organization for women, has hired private security to patrol the area during nighttime hours.

This security initiative began in early April and currently oversees ten sororities along the 600-800 block of Hilgard Street nightly from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

UCLA student Charlie Mosch commented on the situation, saying, “We called him the screamer. He would sit there screaming vulgarities, yelling, and making threats.”

Skyler Moses, another student, echoed that the presence of security provides a sense of safety. “I think it gives people a sense of security that someone is physically here. We have a big group chat across Panhel about incidents that happen on the streets, so everyone is just aware,” she noted.

Another unnamed student expressed concerns, stating, “I think it’s mainly a mental illness, but I’ve heard that female students have also been verbally harassed and made sexual comments.”

These incidents highlight broader issues occurring even at top universities in California, where unhoused individuals contribute to lewd and disturbing behaviors.

This situation is particularly alarming for sorority members who must cross Westholme Avenue to reach the campus.

Panhellenic leaders intend to maintain their security efforts if they prove successful. However, there’s also a growing concern that female students shouldn’t be responsible for funding additional security on their own.

Skyler Moses added, “I think people feel safer when someone is physically here. We have a big group chat across Panhel about incidents that happen on the streets, so everyone is aware. We have a dorm mother, but we don’t feel safe inside the house.”